There are lots of persons and things for which I thank God daily. But along with that list, I am thankful also that I do not live in the Netherlands. You see, I'm getting along in years, but on April 10,

Equally, I am thankful that I do not live in Oregon, because that state has allowed assisted suicide since 1996. And who knows, I might think I'm tired of life even if I lived in Oregon. After all, it rains so much there!

But why do people get tired of life? We all do it occasionally, don't we, especially if were getting on in years? Joints hurt from arthritis. Energy lags and we cant get everything done that we would like to do. It's hard to make ends meet. The kids are far away and busy. The world is going to hell in a hand-basket. So what's the point of it all? Well, escape it all, says the Netherlands. Take a suicide pill.

One of the symptoms of old age, however, can sometimes be depression. And in an Oregon study it was found that the vast majority of suicidal wishes among the sick and elderly are due to treatable depression. But in only 19% of such cases in A.D. 2000 did a physician refer the patient for any psychological evaluation. Instead, the patient was allowed to commit suicide within 30 days (ibid). I find something terribly wrong with that, don't you? And as I said, I'm thankful I don't live in the Netherlands or Oregon, because doctors there could easily prompt me to do away with my life long before I really wanted to die.

Or let's consider the argument a little further. Suppose I am aged and in a nursing home, dependent on the care of others. My kids manage to visit me frequently, but I know its a real burden to them to travel the distance and to take the time out from their busy schedules. I also know that the nursing home care is costing them a lot of money. And you see, I want neither to be a burden to my children, whom I love with all my heart, nor do I want to exhaust the money that they could inherit after my death. So, to do my beloved children a favor, I say I want to die. And in a place where assisted suicide is practiced, I can be speedily helped to do just that. There's nothing particularly physically wrong with me, and I'm still in my right mind. I still enjoy reading and visiting with the nurses and other residents. But I have loved my children all my life, and I want to do what is best for them. So I will just take myself out of their lives and save them time, trouble, and money. Such could be the reasoning of an elderly, widowed, loving mother or father.

There is one more facet to the argument. Lets suppose that I am suffering a painful illness--cancer, Parkinson's disease, any one of the dread diseases that afflict the human race. Unfortunately, the hospital where I am being treated is not very good at eliminating pain, and so I am suffering a great deal. I therefore am a prime candidate for euthanasia, and I can be put to death by the simple practice of giving me an overdose in a morphine drip. But as Canadian physician, Dr. Barrie deVeber noted with regard to the Dutch law allowing euthanasia, Essentially this law protects physicians and nursing care providers who lack the knowledge and expertise necessary for excellence in patient care, rather than protecting their patients. Instead of learning what is necessary to relieve persistent pain and to give their patients a peaceful end, the care-providers have simply taken the easy way out by killing those dependent on them.

Yes, I'm thankful that I am not growing old in the Netherlands or in the state of Oregon, because my life was first given to me by a loving God. It has been made abundantly good by Gods faithful care and love for me. And I will continue, through all circumstances, to trust that always underneath are Gods everlasting arms, until by his grace alone, I am welcomed into his eternal kingdom of joy, where there is no death or sorrow or sighing, and the former things have passed away.

• Elizabeth Achtemeier is retired adjunct professor of Bible and Homeletics at Union Seminary in Richmond and a member of the PPL Board of Reference.

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